Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench has directed Manipur government to appoint a surrendered militant as follower in the police department within a month. The court passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by a hardcore member of the banned organisation RPF/PLA, Moirangthem Sana Singh of Phumlou Siphai of Imphal west district, who appeared before a special DPC for appointment to the post of rifleman and followers held from September 6 to October 10, 2002. The special DPC had recommended 74 who surrendered for appointment in two categories. 40 of them were recommended for appointment as riflemen and 34 as followers in 4th IRB.However, the petitioner along with 33 others selected for the followers were not allowed to join the service based on the report of police verification and medical fitness examination.The state of Manipur is infested by many underground organisations and in order to solve the problem of underground activities, the state government has approved the formulated scheme for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants in the northeast states by government of India. The policy stated that the benefits under the scheme are applicable to those militants who had surrendered after April 1, 1998. (Correspondent)